Power cord choice?


Hoping to change (or upgrade) my current PC in use with my ARC CD3 Mk2. Currently I'm using a Locus Designs Polestar and setting a limit $600 max. I'd like to find a cord that can get more micro details from the ARC yet, I'd like to retain the smoothness but, try to open the sound stage and get a little more bottom in doing so. I listen to Alt rock (Sir Sly, The Killers, Gargage), rock, blues using Classe CAP 151 integrated and Apogee Slant 6s. I know this is subjective but, I'm also doing my best to work with my budget constraints and I'm not going to change if the improvement would just be slightly incremental. I'd like suggestions to consider, please.
rsjm80

Showing 10 responses by raysmtb1

You guys are all wrong. Watch this video from an electrical engineer/musician. It’s solves the battle

https://youtu.be/ZyWt3kANA3Q
I listen to a lot of music. I had a mountain bike accident four years ago which has left me in wheelchair most of the day and I’ve had lots of time to try lots of different products. I’ve spent a decent amount of money looking for the magic that some people find bye changing different cables and PCs in their system. the best reason that I can gather is that at different times during the day your sinus cavities are different sizes depending on how much moisture is in the air. This directly affects what you hear, how the sound echoes through your head. There’s definitely a difference which could explain why people think that when you wait the cables will burn in. If you’re wondering how I figured this out is that after the accident I lost the use of my hands thus I cannot pick my nose. Sure this sounds gross but we all do it without realizing it. I have to have somebody help me clear my nose. This practice of having somebody else clear my nose has made it easy two realize the fact that music sounds different before and after this practice. That’s how I came to the conclusion that sinuses and sinus pressure have something to do with the cable war that has gone on for so many years.
Barometric pressure, whether you’ve just jumped out of the shower, or just blow your nose makes a difference in what you hear. The simplest experiment that I can think of is listen to your cables after being outside all day. Turn off your system, blow your nose and then listen to your system again. It will sound different if you really pay attention. I think the same thing happens when you listen to different cables, PCs etc. but nobody pays attention to these factors.
The laws of electricity are solid and have been around for over 100 years. If there were differences in electrical properties via different cables somebody would’ve figured out a way by now to classify the cables before you bought them. Basically different metals and shielding products would do different things to cables and you could chart this like you can chart Tone controls and equalizers. That way, you could walk into an audio store and I say to the sales person “ i’d like my system to have more high end, can you please direct me to a set of cables that are rated for more high end?” The way things are now it’s no different than throwing dice against a wall you have no idea what they’re going to do to your system. If cables were changing systems as science fact(like the rules of electricity ) Power cords and interconnects would be a science instead of a crapshoot.

how’s that for a crazy off-the-wall theory?

Thyname…. The reason why that people jump in is because much of what people talk about when discussing inner K’NEX and power cords is ridiculous. Most people that have knowledge of basic science can’t believe that people are talking the way that they do. That’s why I offered up the idea of peoples sinuses make a difference and how something sounds. That makes more sense then some of the explanations I’ve read about how a power cord or an IC can make a difference.
For those of you who still aren’t sure here’s an article that’s worth reading.

https://www.androidauthority.com/premium-audio-cable-myth-worth-it-1001521/

Also if you don’t like to read here’s a video.
https://youtu.be/ZyWt3kANA3Q

you’re better off spending your money on better components than you are wasting it on interconnects. I have $40,000 worth I have equipment all connected with AmazonXLR cords. It sounds amazing I have people over all the time that if they knew I used Amazon cards they wouldn’t believe it. This is not an ad for Amazon this is an argument against thousand dollar power cords add thousand dollar interconnects

For all of you guys out there who are smarter than I am with computers here’s a guy who shows you how to perform a null test With some software and computer. It would be interesting if somebody out there could do annual test on their computer between a normal cable and an expensive cable and let’s see if these guys are full of it or not

https://youtu.be/52kbgFAuu6k
Here is some more real science for you guys to try and soak in. It’s got graphs and charts and lots of explanations.

https://youtu.be/dLghg0QXPzs
All right, you guys win. If you can’t soak in some science from guys that are more experienced than most of us on this forum I guess I’ll give up.
I guess I am the moron now. I’d rather trust you guys over Armirm at Audio science Review. He’s not that accomplished of a guy, I looked him up, He probably bought that $28,000 piece of review equipment off of the interest he made on his money this month after retiring from Microsoft. He’s probably bored so he decided to start a website. Here is his story.

I am Electrical Engineer by degree (and hobby) although most of my professional experience has been in software development. After 35 years in technology sector, I retired as VP of Digital Media at Microsoft in 2008. I am founder of Madrona Digital which is a company that specializes in mid to high-end electronics for residential and commercial properties. I also advise local companies in digital media and co-founded a company in that domain that was sold a few years ago.

Hey Polly and vinyl shadow why don’t you post your chops up here and let’s see who the group would rather follow.
I don’t know Max but after seeing his videos which are very science-based I would guess that he would agree with the audio science review. Most scientists know how to speak the same language. Maybe all of you guys should meet on Bob carvers boat and talk about science and measurements and cables. If those three Guys would say that cables made a difference then I would believe it.